History, doctrine, culture, books

Religion Coverage Like a Trip to the Zoo

At the Fordham University site, a summary of comments by a September 16 panel of media types regarding media coverage of religion in the 2008 election cycle (hat tip: ASA). Said one veteran journalist: "A lot of [the coverage] is like a trip to the zoo—see the crazy Mormon here, the wild black pastor there. There is no appreciation of what religion means to people.”

Also on the panel was Peggy Fletcher Stack of the Salt Lake Tribune, who was "appalled by the way Romney was treated by the press." That sentiment was apparently shared by others on the panel.

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I think all of us felt injured by the anti-LDS venom the Romney campaign sparked. And I think we have a right to feel hurt. At the same time, however, I wonder how we can justify our church, through its broadcast arm -- Bonneville International -- airing hate broadcasters such as Sean Hannity on its stations. Hannity in no way qualifies as legitimate public affairs broadcasting. This is right-wing hatred directed at blacks, democrats -- just about anyone he dislikes. Of all people, we should be much more sensitive about this.

Mormon Books 2013-14

Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of MormonismGivens and Grow's warts-and-all biography of this energetic missionary, author, and apostle whose LDS career spanned Joseph Smith's life, the emigration to Utah, and Brigham Young's early leadership of the Church in Utah. My Review